Man Charged In Mendota Heights Machete Attack: Complaint

MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN — A Saint Paul man was recently charged with second-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault in connection with a woman being attacked with a machete at a hotel in Mendota Heights, according to a criminal complaint filed against him in Dakota County District Court.

If found guilty, James Ray Evans could face up to 20 years in prison for each count, according to the complaint.

Officers were dispatched to a Mendota Heights hotel just after 10 p.m. on June 12 on a report of an assault in progress, police said. Officers were told that a man identified as James Evans was assaulting a woman, according to officials. A witness told police that the man had a machete and was using it to assault the woman, officials said.

When officers got to the hotel, they saw a man running through the parking lot, police said. The man was apprehended and identified as Evans, according to officials.

When officers approached the hotel room, they saw blood on the wall and floor outside, officials said. A machete was found on the floor inside the room, according to police.

The woman was sitting in the room with lacerations all over her body, officials said. An officer put a tourniquet on the woman's arm, which was severely lacerated, according to officials.

The woman said she had been previously pistol-whipped by Evans, police said.

A witness told officers that she saw Evans earlier in the day with a machete and later heard screaming, police said. According to officials, the witness came out of her room and saw the woman covered in blood.

A second witness told police that she heard "slapping noises" and yells for help, according to officials. She banged on the door and Evans threw the woman out of the room and ran away, police said.

In a mirandized statement, police said that Evans admitted to "slashing" the woman.

The woman is in critical condition and has been placed on a ventilator, according to officials. According to the criminal complaint, at the time the complaint was filed in June, officials were unaware of the woman's status. The complaint was posted Wednesday.